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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1 W. H. BREITHAUPT.

DRAWBRIDGE.-

No. 587,926. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lVILLIAM HENRY BREITHAUPT, OF NElV YORK,N. Y.

DRAWBRlDG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,926, dated August 10, 1897.

Application filed July 3, 1896. Serial No. 597,980. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WlLLIAM HENRY BRETT- HAUPT, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drawbridges; andldohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make use of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The main objects of my invention are to dispense with the middle pier upon which horizontally-turning bridges are supported, thus removing its obstruction to the passage of vessels and admitting of shorter bridges, and to provide a bridge of this class which is stiff and rigid when closed.

It consists, essentially, of an arch with a suspended floor, both arch and floor being in two equal parts, which adjoin and are continuous when the bridge is closed. The archhalves abut on and revolve about pedestals resting on abutm ents, one on either side of the stream or opening to be spanned. At the center of the bridge,where the two arch-halves adjoin, one has a convex end, forming a little less than one-half of a circular cylinder. The other has a cavity to fit the said convex end and has guide-arms to insure the proper meeting of the two ends. The joint thus formed is laterally guided by means of a ridge on the convex end and a V-shaped groove in the concave end, as shown in Figure 3 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The floor-halves are each hinged to the arch-halves near their shore ends, and farther out are attached to the arch-halves by means of jointed suspenders. On each abutment back of the pedestal is a tower, over the top of which the floor and arch halves are drawn up when the bridge is to be opened to allow the passage of vessels. The arch and floor halves are separately counterweighted, the former by a diminishingpull and the latter by a constant-pull counterweight. The bridge is preferably operated bymeans of electric motors, one in each tower. These motors are connected by a conductor, so as to allow of their control and operation by a single operator. Transmission of tension from the counterweights and of pull from the hoisting-engines is done by means of steel cables passing over suitable sheaves.

In the accompanying drawings the letters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of a bridge embodying my improvements. The full lines show the bridge closed and the dotted lines show position of the various parts when the bridge is open. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation, on a much enlarged scale, of the center joint; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the cen ter joint. Fig. 4 illustrates in side elevation, upon an enlarged scale, one half of my improved drawbridge, showing the arrangement of cables and counterweights, a similar arrangement being used for the other half of the bridge, as shown in Fig. 1. The positions assumed by the various parts when the floor is raised or folded are indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4.

A A are the arch-halves; F F, the floorhalves; S S S, the jointed suspenders; P P, the pedestals about which the arch-halves revolve, and H H the hinges about which the floor-halves revolve.

O is the convex end of the center joint, and J J are the guide-arms on the concave end.

T T are the towers; M M, the housings for the motors; WV TV, the chain of main or arch connterweights, and w w the floor-counterweights.

At the points 13 Bin the towers the ends of the arch or main counterweight-chains are attached. The main counterweights are attached by means of two cable-loops for each arch-half, the loops holding to the arch by means of the equalizing-sheaves at D D and the cable ends then passing over the sheaves E E to the counterweight-chains WV W. The floor-counterweight cables are fastened to the arches at G G, pass around the floor-sheaves K K, and then over the sheaves L L Q Q N N O O to the counterweights W W. The sheaves O O are set on a skew, so as to take the floorcounterweights away from the path of the main counterweights. The hoisting-cables are fastened to the towers at R R, pass over the sheaves L L, around the floor-sheaves K K, and over the sheaves U U, V V, and Z Z to the drums in the motor -houses. The sheaves K K and L L are double, so as to take both floor-counterweight and hoisting cables.

lVhen the bridge is closed, contact at the center joint 0 c is a little less than onehalf of a circular cylinder, the cavity 0 and the arms J J being'of such shape as to permit of the revolving of the end 0 to the extent caused by expansion and contraction of the archhalves A A.

In opening the drawbridge the floor-halves F F are first pulled up against the arch-halves to the position F F. Continuation of the pull on the hoisting-cables raises floor and arch halves together to the position A F A F. I11 many cases, such as permitting passage of tugs and barges which have no high projections, it will be necessary only to raise the floor Without raising the arch-halves.

I do not limit myself to the particular means in every detail described for operating my improved drawbridge. My invention does not include the method of counterweighting and operating.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Paten't- 1. In an arch-drawbridge, the combination with a two-part hinged arch of a two-part floor suspended from said arch, the two parts of said floor being unconnected at their meeting ends.

2. In an arch-drawbridge, the combination with a two-part hinged arch, of a two-part hinged floor adapted to fold against said arch.

3. In a drawbridge, the combination with a two-part hinged arch, of a two-part floor hinged to said arch.

4. In a drawbridge, the combination of a two-part hinged arch; a two part floor hinged to said arch; and suspenders between said floor and said arch.

5. In a drawbridge, the combination with a two-part hinged arch, of a floor suspended from said arch by hinged suspenders adapted to permit the folding of the floor against the arch.

two-part hinged arch; a floor hinged to said arch; and hinged suspenders between said floor and said arch.

7. In a drawbridge, the combination with a two-part hinged arch, provided with a guidejoint at its center, of a two-part fioorsuspended from said arch.

S. In a drawbridge, the combination with a two-part hinged arch, provided with a guidejoint at its center, of a twopart floor hinged to said arch.

9. In a drawbridge, the combination with a two-part hinged arch, provided with a guidejoint at its center, of a two-part floor suspended from said arch by hinged suspenders.

10. In a drawbridge, the combination'of a two-part hinged arch, provided with a guidejoint at its center; a two-part floor hinged to said arch; and hinged suspenders between said floor and said arch.

11. In a drawbridge, an arch composed of two parts, one of said parts having one end convex and provided with a ridge-guide, and the other of said parts having one end concave and grooved, and provided'with guide-arms, whereby, when said ends are in contact, a central joint is formed, for the purposes set. forth.

WILLIAM HENRY BREITHAUPT;

Witnesses:

.FREDERIO S. ALLEN, FRANCIS SULLIVAN.

6. In a drawbridge, the combination of a. 

